In the past, the underwater world had been an unsolvable mystery of Nature. However, with time, scuba diving and other marine activities have explored 100% of that world. And capturing the underwater beauties has become a popular photography genre.
Many underwater cameras for diving are available in the market that has created a storm in the photography world. And Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV is one such reckoned digital compact camera that serves the purpose of underwater photography effortlessly. This digital underwater camera for diving comes with a 20.1 MP RS CMOS image sensor that is capable of capturing immersive 4K images and videos.
Apart from these, super slow-motion HFR recording, high shutter speed, quick autofocus, waterproof-ability, low-light and low-sound capturing capability, and long-lasting battery life makes the Sony cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV camera one of the must-haves for any scuba diving lover’s bucket list.
So, if you want to purchase this digital camera for your next scuba diving adventure, then this Sony cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV review might guide you in your decision making.
Table of Contents
Key Specifications
- 20. 1 MP 1.0-Type Exmor CMOS Sensor.
- UHD 4K image and video captures.
- Shutter speed of 1/32000 sec.
- ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* F1.8-2.8 lens providing 3.6x optical zoom.
- ISO 125-6400 for continuous shooting of 16 FPS at any condition.
- XGA OLED Tru-Finder retractable electronic viewfinder.
- 3-inch Multi-angle-rotatable Xtra Fine LCD.
- Weight: 9.6 ounces.
- Dimensions: 4*1.6*2.8 inches.
- 1-year warranty.
Pros
- The viewfinder works excellently.
- It is capable of capturing 4K video.
- No pixel binning.
- Superb quality slow-motion video capture.
- High-quality images in low-light conditions.
- Low noise shots.
- Quick autofocus.
- Waterproof.
- Durable enough.
- Long battery life.
- Easy Wi-Fi connectivity.
Cons
- The price tag is quite high.
- Raw functionalities are limited.
- There is no touch-screen available.
If you want to have a quick review of this outstanding camera, check out this video:
A Detailed Review of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV Camera
Design
Like its predecessors, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV digital camera is also designed uniquely to give a trendy and elegant outlook. It possesses a sleek, compact, and classy design with a dimension of 10.61*3.59*5.81 cm that easily fits into your pocket. The lightweight aluminum casing of the camera not only makes it thin and light but also adds on to the durability of the product.
This sturdy-built classy black edition of Sony’s brilliant compact camera has FN (function), Menu, Movie, and Delete button provisioned beside its LCD monitor. ON/OFF and power/charge lamp, shutter button, diopter-adjustment lever, and viewfinder are located on the top of the camera for your easy access. Also, Mode dial lying at the top of the camera gives you access to several modes that you can select while shooting the underwater beauties.
Besides, zoom lever, self-timer lamp/AF illuminator, microphone, viewfinder pop-up switch, n-Mark, USB terminal, HDMI micro jack, control wheel, and memory card slot – all these functionalities are given compatible for an enhanced experience in handling.
Lens and Image Sensor
This point and shoot type digital camera from Sony comes with a large aperture of F1.8-2.8 ZEISS Vario SONNAR T* lens incorporated with 20.1 MP 1.0-type Exmor RS CMOS image sensor. This waterproof lens has a zooming capacity of about 24-70 mm to capture perfect portraits and macro shots with amazing defocused or bokeh backgrounds.
Also, the Exmor RS stacked back with illuminated CMOS sensor is efficient in capturing beautiful moments and recording movies at a high-quality resolution of 4K at any lighting conditions. The Advanced Aspherical (AA) lens includes four aspherical elements to improve sharpness and superior multi-layered T* coating to prevent the occurrence of ghost and flare caused by unwanted light reflections.
Such a fantastic combination of lens and image sensor allows the camera to capture still images with a digital zoom of up to 54X. In the case of movie recording, it provides an optical zoom of about 3.6 times. Also, you can click photos at 168 MP while shooting a movie without any pixel binning.
Display
The retractable XGA OLED Tru-Finder electronic viewfinder (EVF) comes with a high resolution of almost 2.359k-dots. It displays exact video recordings and images, including all the camera effects and helps you frame, focus, and monitor the result. The pop-up facility of the viewfinder helps in maintaining the compact form factor of the camera. This feature makes the product preferable by the scuba divers as it makes the camera easy to carry without a possible chance of breakage.
The Sony DSC-RX100 IV also comes with a multi-angle Xtra Fine LCD comprising approximately 1229k-dots. This 3-inch stunning display can be swiveled in multiple angles to take images of distant and hidden objects. You can swing above up to 180° and below by 45°. The 3-inch LCD incorporates WhiteMagic technology that ensures easy visibility of menus and image or video previews even under bright sunlight.
The large and tiltable display makes it easy for the snorkelers and scuba divers to capture immersive images and shoot excellent 4K videos of the marine creatures from high, low, or front-facing angles. It also helps them to take gorgeous underwater selfies in the best diving locations in the world.
Battery Life
This camera is powered by a Sony NP-BX1 battery pack that comes with a capacity of 1240 mAh. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV consumes only 1.5 watts power. Besides, this camera model supports the internal charging of the batteries via its USB port.
In the case of still images, the battery of the camera will last for 165 minutes to take approximately 330 shots. However, the battery will allow you to shoot a continuous movie for about 80 minutes. After that, you will require recharging of the camera.
Performance
When it comes to performance, Sony has given a tough competition to its rivals every time. So, in this Sony cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV review, we have provided a detailed analysis of the performance of this camera model.
High-Resolution 4k Picture Quality
The high-speed BIONZ imaging processor embedded in Sony cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV enhances the rate of frames to 10 FPS and captures flawless, detailed, and natural still images. Combined action of 20.1 MP 1.0-type Exmor RS CMOS image sensor and AA T* lens click brilliant shots and all kinds of superb videos.
The high-resolution clip-4K movie feature works as a direct pixel readout mode, which is perfect for everyday use. The 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor with full pixel readout helps in recording high-quality 4K movies and gives high-resolution images without any line skipping and pixel binning. The incorporated XAVC S format helps in maximizing shooting at a high bit-rate of up to 100 Mbps.
Even low-light conditions are not an issue anymore. The wide ISO range of this digital camera varies from 125-6400 and allows you to take natural and clear pictures at low-light situations like sunrise or sunset. The SteadyShot Active Mode is efficient in controlling shaky images and reducing blur and rolling motion at different lighting conditions.
Super speed shutter
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV digital camera is the first-ever 1-inch (1.0-type) camera that has an Exmor RS CMOS image sensor stacked in it along with a DRAM chip. It works compatible with the super-fast shutter speed of 1/32000. It is the main reason behind its enhanced efficiency.
Also, the DRAM chip facilitates super-fast readout speed, which is 5-times quicker than the predecessor RX 100 II camera. This super-fast processing speed is the secret behind the excellent 20.1 megapixels picture quality.
The anti-distortion high shutter speed also allows taking shots of any swiftly moving subject without altering its shape. Additionally, the camera can capture photos at defocused backgrounds with the help of large-aperture settings in any bright lighting environment.
Simple connectivity and file-sharing
The built-in facilities allow you to connect the camera easily with the free PlayMemories mobile app on your smartphone, tab, or computer. One-tap motion gesture, Wi-Fi connectivity, and NFC facilitates easy file sharing and transferring of high-quality and marvelous underwater photos and movies with your social media friends.
Additional Features
Besides, the above-said characteristics, there are a few more exclusive features of Sony cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV that make it the best scuba camera for your next deep-sea diving adventure.
The all-new Exmor RS CMOS sensor contributes to the fast, intelligent AF. The digital camera implements Sony’s intrinsic proprietary algorithm along with the RS CMOS image sensor to incorporate an excellent auto-focusing system that ensures high-speed and super-precise contrast-detection capability. This feature aids the scuba divers to capture pin-sharp underwater shots without having to bear the hassle of focusing the lens repeatedly.
The RX 100 IV camera can also capture slow-motion HFR movies at a superb level of excellence, which can be slowed down up to 40 times compared to real-time. The camera settings allow you to choose the quality priority and shoot time priority. One can also select the playback priority in XAVC S format at 1920*1080 resolution in 60p, 30p, or 24p. Moreover, it lets you choose among the options of 960 FPS, 480 FPS, or 240 FPS. The ‘start trigger’ and ‘end trigger’ allows you to time the split-second moments effortlessly.
Besides, new and exciting features can be easily added to your RX 100 IV camera using the PlayMemories app. You can customize your camera with time-lapse, motion shot, and many more features with the help of the said app by connecting it with your smartphone over Wi-Fi.
We hope that this Sony cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV review helped you know why this camera model of Sony is an absolutely stunning device. To shop for this outstanding camera, you can click here.
Verdict
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV is one of the most advanced and compact cameras available in the market that comes with numerous exciting features and brilliant performance quality. Being travel-friendly and waterproof, you can capture beautiful moments of the mysterious underwater world with this digital camera.
So, if you are planning for your next scuba diving or snorkeling trip? Then, do not forget to grab this cool scuba diving gear and capture the treasured moments of your life.
